🔊 On the twenty-ninth of May Napoleon left Dresden, where he had spent three weeks surrounded by a court that included princes, dukes, kings, and even an emperor. Before leaving, Napoleon showed favor to the emperor, kings, and princes who had deserved it, reprimanded the kings and princes with whom he was dissatisfied, presented pearls and diamonds of his own-that is, which he had taken from other kings-to the Empress of Austria, and having, as his historian tells us, tenderly embraced the Empress Marie Louise- who regarded him as her husband, though he had left another wife in Paris-left her grieved by the parting which she seemed hardly able to bear. Though the diplomatists still firmly believed in the possibility of peace and worked zealously to that end, and though the Emperor Napoleon himself wrote a letter to Alexander, calling him Monsieur mon frère, and sincerely assured him that he did not want war and would always love and honor him-yet he set off to join his army, and at every station gave fresh orders to accelerate the movement of his troops from west to east. He went in a traveling coach with six horses, surrounded by pages, aides-de-camp, and an escort, along the road to Posen, Thorn, Danzig, and Königsberg. At each of these towns thousands of people met him with excitement and enthusiasm.

五月二十九日,拿破仑离开了他在德累斯顿度过的三周--那里聚集着王子、公爵、国王,甚至还有一位皇帝。临行前,拿破仑对配得上此恩宠的皇帝、国王和王子们示以厚爱,对令他失望的国王和王子们加以训斥,还把自己拥有的珍珠和钻石--也就是他从别的国王那里夺来的--赠予了奥地利的女皇,并且,正如他的史官所述,他深情地拥抱了那位视他为丈夫的玛丽·路易丝女皇--尽管他在巴黎还留着另一位妻子--她因这场似乎难以承受的离别而悲痛欲绝。尽管外交官们仍然坚信和平的可能性,并为此孜孜不倦地努力,尽管皇帝拿破仑本人给亚历山大写了一封信,称他为亲爱的兄弟,并真诚地向他保证自己不想打仗,将永远爱他、尊重他--但他还是出发去与大军会合,每到一站便下达新的命令,加速部队从西向东的调动。他乘坐六匹马拉的旅行马车,由侍从、副官和护卫簇拥着,沿着通往波森、托恩、但泽和柯尼斯堡的大道前进。在每一座城镇,成千上万的民众激动而狂热地迎接他。

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diplomatists /dɪˈpləʊmətɪsts/

n. 外交官（复数）,diplomatist 的复数形式➕

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zealously /ˈzeləsli/

adv. 热情地,积极地➕

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accelerate /əkˈseləreɪt/

v. 加速,促进➕

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escort /ˈeskɔːrt/

n. 护送队,护卫➕

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enthusiasm /ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/

n. 热情,热心➕

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aides-de-camp /ˌeɪdz də ˈkɒ̃mp/

n. 副官（复数）➕

🔊 The army was moving from west to east, and relays of six horses carried him in the same direction. On the tenth of June, coming up with the army, he spent the night in apartments prepared for him on the estate of a Polish count in the Vilkavisski forest.

大军正从西向东移动,六匹一换的驿马也载着他向同一方向疾驰。六月十日,他赶到部队,在维尔卡维斯森林中一位波兰伯爵庄园里为他准备的住所过夜。

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relays /rɪˈleɪz/

n. 接替的马匹,轮换➕

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estate /ɪˈsteɪt/

n. 庄园,地产➕

🔊 Next day, overtaking the army, he went in a carriage to the Niemen, and, changing into a Polish uniform, he drove to the riverbank in order to select a place for the crossing.

次日,他超过部队,乘马车来到涅曼河边,换上一套波兰军服,驱车到河岸以选择渡河地点。

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overtaking /ˌəʊvəˈteɪkɪŋ/

v. 追上,超越（动词overtake的现在分词）➕

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carriage /ˈkærɪdʒ/

n. 马车；车厢➕

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uniform /ˈjuːnɪfɔːrm/

n. 制服；统一的服装➕

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riverbank /ˈrɪvərbæŋk/

n. 河岸➕

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select /sɪˈlekt/

v. 选择,挑选➕

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crossing /ˈkrɒsɪŋ/

n. 横渡；十字路口；渡口➕

🔊 Seeing, on the other side, some Cossacks (les Cosaques) and the wide-spreading steppes in the midst of which lay the holy city of Moscow (Moscou, la ville sainte), the capital of a realm such as the Scythia into which Alexander the Great had marched-Napoleon unexpectedly, and contrary alike to strategic and diplomatic considerations, ordered an advance, and the next day his army began to cross the Niemen.

看到对岸的哥萨克（那些哥萨克人）和广阔无垠的草原--草原中央坐落着圣城莫斯科（莫斯科,圣城）,这是类似于亚历山大大帝曾征讨过的斯基泰那样的王国的都城--拿破仑出人意料地,既违背战略又违背外交考量,下令前进,次日他的军队开始渡过涅曼河。

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steppes /steps/

n. 大草原（特指俄罗斯等地的）➕

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realm /relm/

n. 王国,领域➕

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strategic /strəˈtiːdʒɪk/

adj. 战略的,策略性的➕

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diplomatic /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/

adj. 外交的,有外交手腕的➕

🔊 Early in the morning of the twelfth of June he came out of his tent, which was pitched that day on the steep left bank of the Niemen, and looked through a spyglass at the streams of his troops pouring out of the Vilkavisski forest and flowing over the three bridges thrown across the river. The troops, knowing of the Emperor's presence, were on the lookout for him, and when they caught sight of a figure in an overcoat and a cocked hat standing apart from his suite in front of his tent on the hill, they threw up their caps and shouted: "Vive l'Empereur!" and one after another poured in a ceaseless stream out of the vast forest that had concealed them and, separating, flowed on and on by the three bridges to the other side.

六月十二日清晨,他从那天扎在涅曼河陡峭左岸的帐篷里出来,用望远镜眺望那些从维尔卡维斯森林中涌出、流过河上三座桥梁的部队洪流。士兵们知道皇帝在场,都在找他,当他们看到山坡上帐篷前一个身穿大衣、头戴三角帽的身影独自站在随从之外时,便纷纷抛起军帽高呼:“皇帝万岁！”然后一个接一个地从隐藏他们的广阔森林中源源不断地涌出,分散开来,沿着三座桥梁络绎不绝地流向对岸。

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spyglass /ˈspaɪɡlɑːs/

n. 小型望远镜➕

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ceaseless /ˈsiːsləs/

adj. 不停的,持续的➕

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concealed /kənˈsiːld/

v. 隐藏（过去式）➕

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suite /swiːt/

n. 随从,一组随员➕

🔊 "Now we'll go into action. Oh, when he takes it in hand himself, things get hot... by heaven!... There he is!... Vive l'Empereur! So these are the steppes of Asia! It's a nasty country all the same. Au revoir, Beauché; I'll keep the best palace in Moscow for you! Au revoir. Good luck!... Did you see the Emperor? Vive l'Empereur!... Vive l'Empereur!-If they make me Governor of India, Gérard, I'll make you Minister of Kashmir-that's settled. Vive l'Empereur! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! The Cossacks-those rascals-see how they run! Vive l'Empereur! There he is, do you see him? I've seen him twice, as I see you now. The little corporal... I saw him give the cross to one of the veterans.... Vive l'Empereur!" came the voices of men, old and young, of most diverse characters and social positions. On the faces of all was one common expression of joy at the commencement of the long-expected campaign and of rapture and devotion to the man in the gray coat who was standing on the hill.

“现在我们就要开战了。哦,只要他亲自出手,事情就热闹了……天哪！……他就在那儿！……皇帝万岁！那么这就是亚洲的草原了！这地方可真糟。再见,博谢；我会把莫斯科最好的宫殿留给你！再见。祝你好运！……你看见皇帝了吗？皇帝万岁！……皇帝万岁！--如果他们让我当印度总督,热拉尔,我就让你当克什米尔大臣--说定了。皇帝万岁！乌拉！乌拉！乌拉！那些哥萨克--那些无赖--看他们跑得多快！皇帝万岁！他就在那儿,你看见了吗？我看见过他两次,就像现在看见你一样。那个小伍长……我看见他给一个老兵戴上十字架……皇帝万岁！”传来各种年龄、各种性格和社会地位的人的声音。所有人的脸上都洋溢着同一种表情:为期待已久的战役开始而欢欣鼓舞,对那个站在山丘上身穿灰色大衣的人充满狂喜与忠诚。

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diverse /daɪˈvɜːrs/

adj. 多样的,不同的➕

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commencement /kəˈmensmənt/

n. 开始,开端➕

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campaign /kæmˈpeɪn/

n. 战役,运动➕

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rapture /ˈræptʃər/

n. 狂喜,极度高兴➕

🔊 On the thirteenth of June a rather small, thoroughbred Arab horse was brought to Napoleon. He mounted it and rode at a gallop to one of the bridges over the Niemen, deafened continually by incessant and rapturous acclamations which he evidently endured only because it was impossible to forbid the soldiers to express their love of him by such shouting, but the shouting which accompanied him everywhere disturbed him and distracted him from the military cares that had occupied him from the time he joined the army. He rode across one of the swaying pontoon bridges to the farther side, turned sharply to the left, and galloped in the direction of Kóvno, preceded by enraptured, mounted chasseurs of the Guard who, breathless with delight, galloped ahead to clear a path for him through the troops. On reaching the broad river Víliya, he stopped near a regiment of Polish Uhlans stationed by the river.

六月十三日,一匹纯种的阿拉伯马被牵到拿破仑面前。他翻身上马,疾驰到涅曼河的一座桥上,耳边不断响起经久不息的狂热欢呼声--他显然只是忍受着这一切,因为他无法禁止士兵们用这种呼喊来表达对他的爱戴,但这伴随他左右的呼喊声干扰了他,分散了他自加入部队以来一直专注于军事事务的精力。他骑马穿过一座摇晃的浮桥到达对岸,猛地向左转弯,朝科夫诺方向疾驰而去,前面是欣喜若狂的近卫军骑马猎兵,他们快乐得喘不过气来,策马疾驰,从部队中为他清出一条路。到达宽阔的维利亚河时,他在河岸边驻守的一个波兰枪骑兵团附近停了下来。

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thoroughbred /ˈθʌrəbred/

adj. 纯种的（尤指马）➕

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deafened /ˈdefənd/

v. 使耳聋,震耳欲聋（过去式）➕

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incessant /ɪnˈsesənt/

adj. 连续不断的➕

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rapturous /ˈræptʃərəs/

adj. 狂喜的,欢天喜地的➕

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acclamations /ˌækləˈmeɪʃənz/

n. 欢呼,喝彩（复数）➕

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distracted /dɪˈstræktɪd/

v. 使分心,转移注意力（过去式）➕

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swaying /ˈsweɪɪŋ/

adj. 摇摆的,晃动的➕

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pontoon /pɒnˈtuːn/

n. 浮桥,浮筒➕

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preceded /prɪˈsiːdɪd/

v. 在……之前,先于（过去式）➕

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enraptured /ɪnˈræptʃəd/

adj. 狂喜的,陶醉的➕

🔊 "Vivat!" shouted the Poles, ecstatically, breaking their ranks and pressing against one another to see him.

“万岁！”波兰人欣喜若狂地喊道,冲散了队形,你推我搡地挤着看他。

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ecstatically /ɪkˈstætɪkli/

adv. 狂喜地,欣喜若狂地➕

🔊 Napoleon looked up and down the river, dismounted, and sat down on a log that lay on the bank. At a mute sign from him, a telescope was handed him which he rested on the back of a happy page who had run up to him, and he gazed at the opposite bank. Then he became absorbed in a map laid out on the logs. Without lifting his head he said something, and two of his aides-de-camp galloped off to the Polish Uhlans.

拿破仑上下打量了一下河流,翻身下马,坐在岸边的一根木头上。他无声地示意,有人递给他一架望远镜,他把它架在一个跑过来的快乐的侍童背上,凝视着对岸。然后他全神贯注地看摊在木头上的地图。他没有抬头,说了些什么,两名副官便策马奔向波兰枪骑兵。

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dismounted /dɪsˈmaʊntɪd/

v. 下马,下车（过去式）➕

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mute /mjuːt/

adj. 无声的,缄默的➕

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absorbed /əbˈzɔːrbd/

adj. 专注的,全神贯注的➕

🔊 "What? What did he say?" was heard in the ranks of the Polish Uhlans when one of the aides-de-camp rode up to them.

“什么？他说了什么？”当一名副官策马来到波兰枪骑兵的队列时,队列里传来这样的声音。

🔊 The order was to find a ford and to cross the river. The colonel of the Polish Uhlans, a handsome old man, flushed and, fumbling in his speech from excitement, asked the aide-de-camp whether he would be permitted to swim the river with his Uhlans instead of seeking a ford. In evident fear of refusal, like a boy asking for permission to get on a horse, he begged to be allowed to swim across the river before the Emperor's eyes. The aide-de-camp replied that probably the Emperor would not be displeased at this excess of zeal.

命令是寻找一个浅滩,然后过河。波兰枪骑兵的上校,一位英俊的老人,激动得满脸通红,说话结结巴巴,问副官能否允许他带领他的枪骑兵游泳过河,而不是寻找浅滩。他显然害怕被拒绝,就像一个小男孩请求允许上马一样,恳求让他能在皇帝面前游泳过河。副官回答说,皇帝大概不会对这种过分的热忱感到不快。

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ford /fɔːrd/

n. 浅滩,可涉水而过的地方➕

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fumbling /ˈfʌmblɪŋ/

v. 笨拙地说或做,摸索➕

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displeased /dɪsˈpliːzd/

adj. 不高兴的,不快的➕

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excess /ɪkˈses/

n. 过度,过量➕

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zeal /ziːl/

n. 热情,热忱➕

🔊 As soon as the aide-de-camp had said this, the old mustached officer, with happy face and sparkling eyes, raised his saber, shouted "Vivat!" and, commanding the Uhlans to follow him, spurred his horse and galloped into the river. He gave an angry thrust to his horse, which had grown restive under him, and plunged into the water, heading for the deepest part where the current was swift. Hundreds of Uhlans galloped in after him. It was cold and uncanny in the rapid current in the middle of the stream, and the Uhlans caught hold of one another as they fell off their horses. Some of the horses were drowned and some of the men; the others tried to swim on, some in the saddle and some clinging to their horses' manes. They tried to make their way forward to the opposite bank and, though there was a ford one third of a mile away, were proud that they were swimming and drowning in this river under the eyes of the man who sat on the log and was not even looking at what they were doing. When the aide-de-camp, having returned and choosing an opportune moment, ventured to draw the Emperor's attention to the devotion of the Poles to his person, the little man in the gray overcoat got up and, having summoned Berthier, began pacing up and down the bank with him, giving him instructions and occasionally glancing disapprovingly at the drowning Uhlans who distracted his attention.

副官一说完,那位留着胡子的老军官便兴高采烈、两眼放光,举起马刀喊道:“万岁！”然后命令枪骑兵跟上他,策马冲入河中。他恼怒地猛刺胯下那匹变得躁动不安的马,纵身跃入水中,朝水流湍急的最深处游去。数百名枪骑兵紧随其后纵马跃入河中。河中央的激流冰冷而诡异,枪骑兵们从马上掉下来,便互相抓住。有些马淹死了,有些人也淹死了；其余的人努力向前游,有的骑在鞍上,有的抓着马鬃。他们奋力向对岸前进,尽管不到三分之一英里外就有一个浅滩,但他们仍然感到自豪,因为他们在那个坐在木头上、甚至没有看他们一眼的人眼前,在这条河里游泳和淹死。当副官回来,选了一个合适的时机,斗胆向皇帝指出波兰人对他的忠诚时,这个身穿灰色大衣的小个子男人站起来,召来贝尔蒂埃,开始与他一起在岸边踱步,给他指示,偶尔不满地瞥一眼那些分散他注意力的正在淹死的枪骑兵。

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mustached /ˈmʌstæʃt/

adj. 留胡须的,有髭的➕

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spurred /spɜːrd/

v. 用马刺策马（过去式）,激励➕

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restive /ˈrestɪv/

adj. 焦躁不安的,难以控制的➕

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uncanny /ʌnˈkæni/

adj. 离奇的,不可思议的➕

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opportune /ˈɒpətjuːn/

adj. 合适的,恰好的➕

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ventured /ˈventʃərd/

v. 冒险,敢于（过去式）➕

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summoned /ˈsʌmənd/

v. 召唤,传唤（过去式）➕

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disapprovingly /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvɪŋli/

adv. 不赞成地,反对地➕

🔊 For him it was no new conviction that his presence in any part of the world, from Africa to the steppes of Muscovy alike, was enough to dumfound people and impel them to insane self-oblivion. He called for his horse and rode to his quarters.

对他来说,这早已不是一个新信念:无论他身在何处,从非洲到莫斯科公国的草原,都足以让人目瞪口呆,驱使他们陷入疯狂的自弃。他叫人牵来马,骑回住处。

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conviction /kənˈvɪkʃən/

n. 信念,坚信➕

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dumfound /dʌmˈfaʊnd/

v. 使惊呆,使目瞪口呆➕

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impel /ɪmˈpel/

v. 推动,促使➕

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insane /ɪnˈseɪn/

adj. 疯狂的,精神错乱的➕

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self-oblivion /ˌself əˈblɪviən/

n. 自我遗忘,忘我➕

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quarters /ˈkwɔːrtərz/

n. 住处,营房（复数）➕

🔊 Some forty Uhlans were drowned in the river, though boats were sent to their assistance. The majority struggled back to the bank from which they had started. The colonel and some of his men got across and with difficulty clambered out on the further bank. And as soon as they had got out, in their soaked and streaming clothes, they shouted "Vivat!" and looked ecstatically at the spot where Napoleon had been but where he no longer was and at that moment considered themselves happy.

大约四十名枪骑兵淹死在河里,尽管有船被派去救援。大多数人挣扎着游回了他们出发的河岸。上校和他的一些手下渡过了河,艰难地爬上了对岸。他们一上岸,浑身湿透、衣服滴水,便高喊“万岁！”狂热地望着拿破仑曾经在过、但已不在的那个地方,那一刻他们觉得自己是幸福的。

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clambered /ˈklæmbərd/

v. 攀爬,吃力地攀登（过去式）➕

🔊 That evening, between issuing one order that the forged Russian paper money prepared for use in Russia should be delivered as quickly as possible and another that a Saxon should be shot, on whom a letter containing information about the orders to the French army had been found, Napoleon also gave instructions that the Polish colonel who had needlessly plunged into the river should be enrolled in the Légion d'honneur of which Napoleon was himself the head.

当天晚上,在下达一道命令--将伪造的供俄国使用的俄语纸币尽快运到,以及另一道命令--处决一个身上搜出含有关于法语军队命令的信件的撒克逊人--之间,拿破仑还指示将那位无谓地跳入河中的波兰上校列入荣誉军团勋章--拿破仑本人就是该勋章的领袖。

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forged /fɔːrdʒd/

adj. 伪造的➕

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needlessly /ˈniːdləsli/

adv. 不必要地,无故地➕

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enrolled /ɪnˈrəʊld/

v. 登记,使加入（过去式）➕

🔊 Quos vult perdere dementat.

神欲使人灭亡,必先使其疯狂。

Book Nine: 1812 – Chapter two (第二章)

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